# Máquinas Pensantes: Aforismos Gerados por Computador > creative work by Pedro Barbosa **Wikidata**: [Q132200246](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132200246) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maquinas-pensantes-aforismos-gerados-por-computador ## Summary **Máquinas Pensantes: Aforismos Gerados por Computador** is a 1988 creative work and software application by Portuguese author Pedro Barbosa that generates computer-generated aphorisms. Published in Portuguese as printed matter, it is recognized as a significant example of early computational literature and digital poetry. The work was created using custom software developed in BASIC, including the programs ACASO, AFOR-A, and AFOR-B. ## Key Facts - **Author:** Pedro Barbosa - **Publication Date:** 1988 - **Instance of:** Creative work, Application (software) - **Distribution Format:** Printed matter - **Language:** Portuguese - **ISBN-13:** 978-972-24-0130-2 - **OCLC Number:** 54291597 - **ELMCIP ID:** 8944 - **Programming Language:** Q42979 (BASIC) - **Depends on Software:** ACASO, AFOR-A, AFOR-B - **Software Engine:** ReText - **Class:** Application (software program or group of programs designed for end-users) ## FAQs ### Q: Who created Máquinas Pensantes: Aforismos Gerados por Computador? A: The work was created by Pedro Barbosa, a Portuguese author and developer known for his contributions to computational literature. ### Q: What is the purpose of Máquinas Pensantes? A: It is a creative work that uses computer programs to generate aphorisms, blending literature with software to produce automated textual content. ### Q: In what format was Máquinas Pensantes published? A: The work was published as printed matter in 1988, despite being a software-driven creative project. ### Q: What software does Máquinas Pensantes depend on? A: It relies on custom programs developed by Pedro Barbosa, including ACASO, AFOR-A, and AFOR-B, written in the BASIC programming language. ### Q: Is Máquinas Pensantes available in languages other than Portuguese? A: The known publication is in Portuguese, as indicated by its language of work or name designation. ## Why It Matters **Máquinas Pensantes: Aforismos Gerados por Computador** holds significance as an early example of computational creativity and generative literature. Created in 1988 by Pedro Barbosa, it demonstrates the intersection of technology and literary art, predating the widespread adoption of digital tools in creative fields. The work's use of custom software (ACASO, AFOR-A, AFOR-B) to generate aphorisms highlights an experimental approach to text generation, contributing to the discourse on machine-generated content and its role in literature. As a printed publication derived from software, it also represents a hybrid form—bridging the gap between traditional print media and digital innovation. Its inclusion in the ELMCIP (Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice) database underscores its relevance in the study of electronic literature. For researchers and enthusiasts of digital humanities, Máquinas Pensantes offers a historical case study in the evolution of generative systems and their application in artistic expression. ## Notable For - **Pioneering Computational Literature:** An early instance of software-driven literary creation, combining code and text. - **Hybrid Publication Format:** Published as printed matter despite being rooted in software, reflecting the technological constraints of its time. - **Custom Software Development:** Utilized bespoke programs (ACASO, AFOR-A, AFOR-B) written in BASIC, showcasing Barbosa's technical and artistic synergy. - **ELMCIP Recognition:** Listed in the ELMCIP database with ID 8944, affirming its academic and cultural importance in electronic literature. - **Portuguese Language Innovation:** A rare example of early computational literature in Portuguese, expanding the geographic and linguistic scope of the field. ## Body ### Overview **Máquinas Pensantes: Aforismos Gerados por Computador** is a creative work and software application authored by Pedro Barbosa in 1988. It is classified both as a creative work and an application, indicating its dual nature as a literary and technological artifact. ### Technical Specifications - **Programming Language:** The software was developed in BASIC (Q42979), a high-level programming language commonly used in the 1980s. - **Dependent Software:** The work relies on three custom programs: ACASO, AFOR-A, and AFOR-B. ACASO is noted as a program developed in BASIC by Barbosa. - **Software Engine:** The application uses ReText as its software engine. - **Distribution Format:** Despite being a software application, the work was distributed as printed matter, likely documenting or presenting the generated aphorisms. ### Publication Details - **ISBN-13:** 978-972-24-0130-2 - **OCLC Number:** 54291597 - **Language:** Portuguese - **Date:** 1988 ### Context and Classification The work is part of the broader category of applications—software programs designed for end-users—and is also recognized as a creative work. Its presence in the ELMCIP database (ID: 8944) and Wikidata (with specific references like P12204: 8944) situates it within academic and archival frameworks focused on electronic literature and computational creativity. ### Significance As an early example of generative text systems, **Máquinas Pensantes** demonstrates the potential of computers to participate in creative processes. Its aphorism-generating capability aligns with explorations in artificial intelligence and natural language generation, even if at a foundational level. The work remains a point of reference for discussions on the history of digital literature and the role of human-computer collaboration in the arts.